The present invention relates to a process for separat¬ ing amino acids, an amino-acid-based monomer, and a process for the preparation thereof, as well as a polymer material, and a process for the preparation thereof.

Amino acids are structural elements of one of the most important types of molecule in nature, viz. proteins. It is most essential that amino acids of high purity are available, inter alia as the starting material in dif¬ ferent syntheses and as components in infusions.

Moreover, most amino acids are chiral, and with few exceptions only one enantiomer is of interest. The access to efficient purification methods for amino acids is essential in order to prepare such compounds of high, especially optical, purity.

Today a number of fundamentally different processes of purifying amino acids are available, both regarding the type of amino acid and the enantiomeric form. These processes may be divided into three main types: chemical, chromatographic and enzymatic. However, only a few of them are suitable for nonderivatised amino acids which are of main interest in industrial applications, since deriva- tisation of such relatively inexpensive fine chemicals is unrealistic from the economic point of view.

The present invention relates to a new, preferably chromatographic, process of purifying nonderivatised amino acids.

The molecular imprinting technique implies prepar¬ ing a synthetic polymer of desired affinity for a certain molecule 1'2 (the so-called print molecule). The polymer is composed of monomer units and intermediate cross-link- ing agents. The network contains a print of the print molecule. The preparation can be divided into three main steps, see Fig. 1. First there are formed chemical inter-

actions between the monomers (of the same or different chemical structures) and the print molecule in a selected solvent. These interactions may be both noncovalent and covalent. After adding cross-linking agents and an initiator, there is formed in the second step a polymer round the complex of monomer and print molecule. This results in a "mould" round the print molecule. The last step comprises extraction for removing the print molecule from the polymer, whereby an affinity seat remains in the polymer. This affinity seat is a molecular print of the print molecule in the polymer.

The molecular print means that a form of adsorbtive "memory" for the print molecule has been formed in the polymer. This implies that the print molecule will be better adsorbed to the polymer than a molecule which is structurally related to the print molecule (see Fig. 2). Depending on the type of print molecule, a substrate- or enantio-selective polymer is obtained. This can then be used for specific separation of the print molecule in a subsequent separation process, e.g. liquid chromatography. In the extraction step, the print molecule can be recover¬ ed.

Fundamentally, the functional monomer and also the cross-linking agent are selected according to the inter- actions that are desired between this and the print molecule. The interactions can be either noncovalent or (reversibly) covalent. The covalent bonding is not as general as the noncovalent. Furthermore, more drastic chemical conditions must be applied to remove the print molecule during the extraction step. When noncovalent bondings exist, significantly milder extraction conditions can be applied. The noncovalent bonding is the most general type of bonding, since there are more interactions between the print molecule and monomers at the same time

3 as a mixture of different monomers can be used .

The molecular imprinting technique has been applied to prepare polymers having the above described selectively adsorptive properties for amino acid derivatives (but not nonderivatised amino acids which are the subject matter of this invention) and smaller peptides 1 '2 '3 '4 '5 , β-blockers6, carbohydrate derivatives and carbohydrates 2, ketones7 etc.

Purification of nonderivatised amino acids by means of polymers prepared according to the molecular imprinting technique has not been reported so far, inter alia owing to solubility problems in organic solvents. The present invention makes it possible to purify nonderivatised amino acids by means of polymers prepared according to a method in which the molecular imprinting technique is partly utilised. A process for separating a large number of different amino acids, both from each other and resolution of the respective racemate, has been developed by V.A. Davankov et al 8'9. The process is based on the forming of a diastereomeric complex between an optically active solid phase (e.g. containing an amino acid derivative) and an amino acid enantiomer in the presence of a metallic ion (e.g. copper(II)), see Fig. 3. These diastereomeric complexes vary in stability. This difference can be used to separate amino acids (enantiomers) in a liquid chroma- tography process in which the amino acid (enantiomer) forming the weakest diastereomeric complex is eluted first. Davankov et al have proved that by this method, a number of amino acids (enantiomers) can be separated. The present invention relates to a new technique of separating amino acids and their enantiomers by means of a polymer prepared according to a new method which is a combination of the fundamentally completely different molecular imprinting technique and the so-called Davankov- method. In this manner, the two separating properties, the molecular print of the nonderivatised amino acid enantiomer and the stability of the diastereomeric complex, are com¬ bined in one and the same polymer, which results in

increased separation power in the new polymer (see Fig. 4).

The present invention thus relates to a process for separating a selected amino acid (enantiomer) from a mixture of different components including other amino acids. The process is characterised in that the mixture of amino acid is contacted with a polymer material which is composed of cross-linked, amino-acid-based monomer units, said polymer material containing a molecular print of the selected amino acid (enantiomer), in which molecular print a diastereomeric complex may be formed between the amino acid, a divalent metallic ion and the amino-acid-based monomer unit.

The invention also relates to an amino-acid-based monomer which consists of N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline or N-methacrylaminomethyl-D-proline.

The invention also relates to a process for preparing N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline or N-methacrylaminomethyl- D-proline, in which L-proline or D-proline, formalin and methacrylamide are condensed under alkaline conditions. Moreover, the invention relates to a polymer material for use in separating a selected amino acid (enantiomer) from a mixture. This polymer material is composed of a cross-linked, amino-acid-based monomer unit and contains a molecular print of the selected amino acid, said molecular print further containing a diastereomeric complex between the amino acid, a divalent metallic ion and the amino-acid- based monomer unit.

Finally, the invention also relates to a process for preparing a polymer material, said process comprising a) preparation of a diastereomeric metallic ion complex bet¬ ween an amino-acid-based monomer unit and the selected amino acid (enantiomer), b) polymerisation of the diastereomeric complex in the presence of a cross-linking agent, and c) removal of the selected amino acid from the polymerised diastereomeric complex for forming a molecular print of the selected amino acid in the polymer material.

According to the reaction in Fig. 5, a polymerisable (unsaturated) derivative of L-proline is prepared, N-meth- acrylaminomethyl-L-proline. The method is distinguished by the reactants being simple and readily available substances (proline, methacrylic acid amide and form¬ aldehyde), and by the reaction occurring under alkaline conditions. Similarly, the corresponding D-enantiomer can be prepared.

When carrying out this reaction, it is important that the pH value is adapted so as to be higher than the pK ₂ value of proline. Secondary amino acids, e.g. proline, and similar substances (pipecolic acid, hydroxy proline, allo- hydroxy proline, azetidine carboxylic acid and porretine) are stable with respect to racemisation under basic condi- tions , which means that the optical configuration of the amine can be maintained during the reaction. The racemisa¬ tion will, however, be significant if primary amines are used instead

The complex between the polymerisable derivative of L-proline, a divalent metallic ion and a selected amino acid (enantiomer) is prepared by intermixing the compo¬ nents at a controlled pH value. If the L-enantiomer of the proline derivative is used in combination with D-proline, the resulting metallic ion complex will be more stable than if the L-enantiomer of the proline derivative is used in combination with L-proline 13. This combination of enantiomers in the complex introduces a selectivity for D-proline in the resulting polymer. If one wants to attain a selectivity for L-proline, the complex between the D-proline derivative, a divalent metallic ion and L-proline can be prepared in a similar manner. The proline derivative can also be used for the preparation of polymers with selectivity for an amino acid enantiomer other than proline. This can be carried out by preparing the complex between the proline deri¬ vative and an enantiomer of an amino acid other than proline.

The selected amino acid (enantiomer) can be any naturally occurring or synthetic amino acid.

A number of different metallic ions can serve as the coordinating centre in the diastereomeric complex. As mentioned above, Cu(II) is the most frequent one, but corresponding complexes with Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Ni(II) have also been described 9. In view of the industrial applicability of the present inven¬ tion, the purification of amino acids carried out with smaller toxic metallic ions other than Cu(II) is of great interest.

The polymer can be prepared by polymerising the selected diastereomeric complex in an organic solvent in the presence of a cross-linking agent, e.g. ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, while using an initiator, e.g. azoiso- butyronitrile. The selection of the initiator allows both

4 thermal and photolytic (366 nm) initiation . The complex may also be polymerised in water in the presence of water- soluble cross-linking agents, e.g. N,N'-methylenebisacryl- amide, while using an initiator system based on ammonium peroxodisulphate.

Chromatographic separation of amino acids (enantiomers) on the prepared polymers can be carried out while using distilled water, water-based solutions and organic solvents as mobile phases.

The invention is described by means of, inter alia, the above-mentioned, accompanying figures and the examples below.

Fig. 1 illustrates the principle of preparing a molecular print in a polymer. Fig. 2 illustrates the use of the polymer for separating two different compounds. Fig. 3 illustrates a diastereomeric complex between an optically active solid phase and an amino acid enantiomer in the presence of a copper(II)ion (according to V.A. Davankov et al. 8'9). Fig. 4 shows a polymer material according to the invention before removal of the amino acid enantiomer used as a print molecule (to the right in

the figure). Fig. 5 shows the reaction formula for prepar¬ ing N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline. EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline At room temperature, 3.00 g (0.026 mole) L-proline (Sigma), 1.04 g (0.026 mole) NaOH, and 2.21 g (0.026 mole) methacrylic acid amide (Merck) are dissolved in 50 ml of water in a 100 ml round-bottomed flask fitted with a tight plastic cork and a magnetic stirrer. 2.0 ml (0.026 mole) formaldehyde (Merck) is added during cooling with ice/water bath (about +4°C). The reaction solution is stirred for 4 h and is then allowed to take room tempera¬ ture. The reaction process can be followed by means of thin-layer chromatography on DC-Alufolien, Kieselgel 60 ^F 2 _5ά (Merck) with methanol p.a. as the eluant. Detection is carried out by colouring with iodine. L-proline: R„ 0.35, methacrylic acid amide: R_r 0.83, N-methacrylamino- methyl-L-proline: R_ 0.56, formaldehyde is not coloured with iodine. The pH of the reaction mixture is adjusted to 8.5 with 2 M sulphuric acid, and subsequently the reaction solution is evaporated at reduced pressure. The remaining oil is dried in a desiccator under vacuum above NaOH and is then dissolved in 40 ml methanol (Merck, max. 0.01% H ₂ 0). Na ₂ S0. is precipitated. Before this salt is filtered off, 10 g molecular sieve (Merck, 3 A) is added. The remaining solution is evaporated at reduced pressure to a volume of about 30 ml. This reaction solution is purified in a chromatographic process on a silica gel column (Kie- selgel 60, Merck, 4 x 60 cm) with methanol as the eluant.

After combining suitable fractions and evaporating at reduced pressure, 3.00 g (corresponding to a yield of 60% of the theoretical maximum) uncoloured substance is obtained. R„ 0.56 (methanol). Melting point: 90-92°C. 9"? [c]p -71.2°(c=0.773 in methanol/distilled water, 3/1).

H-NMR (CF-COOD): 1 H, 5.1 ppm, s; 1 H, 4.8 ppm, s; 1 H,

4.1 ppm, d, 2J = 12.45 Hz, AB-spin system; 1 H, 4.02 ppm, d, 2J = 12.16 Hz, AB-spin system, 1 H, 3.73 ppm, m; 1 H, 3.1 ppm, ; 1 H, 4 H, 1.5 ppm, m; 3 H, 1.1 ppm, s.

13--NMR: R-COO , 175.9 ppm; RHN-CO-R, 174.4 ppm; (R ₂ )(R ₁ )C= CH ₂ , 138.3 ppm; (R ₂ )(R ₁ )C=CH ₂ , 128.1 ppm; NCH(CH ₂ )COθ ^" ), 67.6 ppm; N-CH ₂ -N, 62.2 ppm; NCH ₂ CH ₂ , 56.2 ppm; CHCH ₂ CH ₂ , 30.6 ppm; CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ , 24.8 ppm.

Preparation of N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline - Cu(II) - D-proline complex

1.71 g (7.3 mmole) N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline, 1.165 g (7.3 mmole) CuSO. and 0.84 g (7.3 mmole) D-proline are dissolved in 20 ml of distilled water. The pH is adjusted by means of 1 M NaOH to 6.85. The solution is evaporated at reduced pressure and is dried overnight in a desiccator. Then the dry residue is dissolved in 30 ml methanol, and after filtering off inorganic salts, the methanol solution is evaporated at reduced pressure. 2.95 g (corresponding to a yield of 98% of the theoretical maximum) blue-coloured substance is obtained. R_ 0.51 (methanol). Melting point: 206-208°C. IR (cm ): 3500-3200, 2960-2850; 1680-1640 (strong); 1610-1550 (strong); 1550-1520; 1470-1430; 1420-1300. Preparation of polymer

2.95 g (7.2 mmol) N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline - Cu(II) - D-proline complex is dissolved together with 7.77 g (39.2 mmole) ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (Merck) in 13 ml methanol in a test tube. The solution is passed by nitrogen gas and before the test tube is provided with a tight-fitting cork, 95 mg (0.58 mmole) azoisobutyronitrile (Merck) is added. The polymerisation is then allowed to proceed at 65°C overnight.

The formed polymer is crushed by hand in a mortar and is then ground in a mechanical mortar device (Retsch, Haan, Germany) for 5 min. The material is sieved through a 25 μm sieve. Subsequently the material is allowed to sediment in two turns in 95% ethanol, while removing the supernatant. The sediment is carefully washed with 1/1 95% ethanol/distilled water and 1 M NHg in order to remove D- proline and is then dried in a desiccator overnight. Amino acid analysis after hydrolysis (6 M HC1, 24 h, 110°C) of a sample of the polymer proved that the polymer contains 52% of the theoretical amount of the proline derivative. Chromotographic evaluation

The obtained polymer material is packed in an HPLC steel column (100 x 4.6 mm) in distilled water at a pressur of 200 bar. The column is placed in an HPLC device (Kontron, Switzerland) and equilibrated in 1 M NH ₃ at a flow rate of 0.25 ml/min, and detection is carried out by measuring the absorbency at 260 nm. 400 μg D,L-proline is injected in 20 μl distilled water. k'_ = 0.40, k' = 1.37. Separation factor: 3.4. Moreover, the same amount of the following racemates is injected; D,L-threonine, D,L-phenylalanine, D,L-serine and D,L-valine. These racemates were not resolved. The separation factor for the corresponding resolution of D,L-proline with a polymer prepared according to the Davankov method was 1.54 14

EXAMPLE 2

Preparation of N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline -

Cu(II) - L-serine complex

1.71 g (7.3 mmole) L-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline, 1.165 g (7.3 mmole) CuSO, and 0.767 g (7.3 mmole) L-serine are dissolved in 20 ml of distilled water. The pH is adjust¬ ed by means of 1 M NaOH to 6.8. The solution is evaporated at reduced pressure and dried overnight in a desiccator. Subsequently, the dry residue is dissolved in 30 ml of methanol, and after filtering off inorganic salts, the methanol solution is evaporated at reduced pressure. 2.95 g (corresponding to a yield of 98% of the theoretical maximum)

blue-coloured substance is obtained. R_ 0.53 (methanol). Melting point: 172-174°C. IR (cm ^-1 ): 3500-3200, 2960-2850; 1680-1640 (strong); 1610-1550 (strong); 1550-1520; 1470-1430; 1420-1300. Preparation of polymer

6.8 mmole N-methacrylaminomethyl-L-proline - Cu(II) - L-serine complex is dissolved together with 5.24 g (34 mmole) N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide in distilled water to a total volume of 160 ml. 0.125 g (0.54 mmole) (NH ₄ ) ₂ S0 ₄ is added together with 40 μl N,N,N',N'-tetramethyletylene- diamine, and the solution is passed by nitrogen gas for a few minutes. After 4 h at room temperature, a gel-like polymer is obtained.

The polymer formed is isolated by filtration and is then allowed to sediment in 5 turns in distilled water, while removing the supernatant. The sediment is carefully washed with 1/1 95% ethanol/distilled water and distilled water to remove L-serine and is then dried in a desiccator overnight. Amino acid analysis after hydrolysis (6 M HC1, 24 h, 110°C) of a sample of the polymer proved that the polymer contains 64% of the theoretical amount of the proline derivative. Chromatographic evaluation

The polymer (1.4 g) is suspended in 50 ml 0.1 M Cu(CH ₃ C00) ₂ , pH 5.3, is then washed in 5 turns with dis¬ tilled water and is packed at a flow rate of 0.30 ml/min in distilled water in a low-pressure chromatography column (8 x 2.5 cm). 22 mg D,L-serine is applied in 0.5 ml distilled water, and the separation is carried out with the same eluant and at arflow rate of 0.30 ml/min. The eluate is collected in fractions of 1.45 ml. The contents of the two enantiomers in the fractions are determined by HPLC analy¬ sis after derivatising with (+)-l-(9-fluorenyl)ethylchloro- formate 15. The analysis showed that the fractions 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 contained 100% D-serine, the fractions 12, 13, 14 and 1596% D-serine and 4% L-serine; the fractions 18, 19 and 20 95% D-serine and 5% L-serine.

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